Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-01-20
STEAMBOATING AND RAFTING.
The Number Inspected Last Season
The Years Rafting Business--The
Steamers Engaged.
sTEAMBoT INSPECTING.

sTEAMBoT INSPECTING.
The annual report of Inspector Hayes
of this district, which refers 10 a large ex-
tent of the work done by Inspectors
Burns and Scott, whose frequent visits to
Rock Island cut an important figure in
the steamboat season. has been subs
mitted, showing the following.
Total number of vessels inspected
112; gone out of service, 4; increase for
the year. Az boilers inspected. 29e; con-
demned, 1; found defective, 81; increase
in number of boilers, 80; masters, pilots,
engineers and other officers, 1,03i; de-
crease in officers, ETC., IL; license sus-
pended. 6; licences revoked, 3; receipts
for the year, $2,0lS 80; expenditures
$40, $3.50.
The fee system was abolished in June
last, and the department is now carried
on by funds heretofore accumulated.
The report includes the st. Paul and
Galena, ILL.,, districts. and no accidents
occurred during the year. a bill for the
striking of Galena, Dubuque and Bur-
lington, with other places of no greater
customs, importance, from the list of
ports of entry, is before Congress. If it
passes, the district of Galena' in the
steambo provinces will be u thing OF
the past, and there will be no more steam
boat inspectors there with annual visits
from captains, pilots and engineers, as
has been the custom for forty years. The
Galenians have prepared protest against
the passage OF the bill. Galena dosen't
see Mississippi packet or freghter once
wear unless there is back flow from
the Mississippi in Galeua river, which
ceased 10 be navigsble stream ten years
ago. Twenty years ago and before, the
channel of that river was nayigable for
Mississippi steamers the season through
but it filed with mud long since.
The thirty-fifth annual meeting
of the board of supervising inspectors
of steam vessels is now in session in
Washington
RAFTING.
During the season of 1886 seventy-two
steamers were engaged in the rafting bus
mess on the upper Mississippi. Besides
these there was some twenty smaller
boats about Saltwater, Beef Slough and
and lower rapids. employed IN towing
logs into harbor. to mills. and assisting on
the rapids. Three new boats were con-
structed and took the place of old ones.
The Musser replaced the James Fisk.
the Everett the place of the VIM.
White, and the Luella the place of the
Sterling. So far rs known no new
boats are being built this winter. 1t
looks very much as if raft boat building
as an active industry, was at, or about
an end, as there are plenty of boats to
easily do all of the business for some
time to come. The principal accidents
were the burning of the steamer Bella
Mac at Lacrosse, and the sinking of the
Meta Durant at Clinton The former
was burned to the waters edge, and is
now being put in thorough repair at La
Crosse The Meta Duraut was raised
without much trouble
Owing to the low water the season was
not as profitable rs usual During the
low water RATS have to be run IN two
pieces long distance, aud at the IA pids
have to be taken over IN the same man
ner, and the service OF little boat IN ad
dition is required, making the work slow
and expensive. The low water season
was of longer duration than usual. and
had it not been for the improvements
made by the government, it would have
been impossible to run at all during a
large portion of the time. The stage of
water was lower than at any period
since rafting with steamboats, began, and
the constant running of boats and RATS
during the whole season speaks volumes
IN favor of the excellent work done BIZ
Maj. Mackenzie and his able corps of
engineers. All steamhoatmen hope that
the good work will continue. The Mol
lie MOhlcr is being wrecked at Lacrosse
and her machinery Will 60 into the Bella
Mac. The Last Chance has been sold,
and her future home will be on big
Muddy" at Chamberlain, Dakota From
present appearances the log cut will be
large. The winter so far has been favor.
able, and with good drives in the spring
next season ought to be good one
Many boats are on the way at different
points. including Kahlkes' yards below
Rack Island, and the whole feet will be
in good repair and ready on the opening
of navig alton.
One of Baltimore's foremost COMMITS
sion merchants. Mr.. W. Edwin Chip,
chase (of Chipchase Bros writes:-A
few days since l spraIned my left foot,
the pain was SO severe that could hard.
ly walk at all. saw your Salvation oil
advertised, so / determined to give it